Stringed musical instrument



(No Model.)

H. DAHLMAN. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented Feb. 23,1892.

INVENTOR W ALL/04m a) WITNESSES ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY DAI'ILMAN, OF CAMBRIDGE, MINNESOTA.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,548, dated February 23, 1892.

Application filed April 1, 1891. Serial No. 387,276. (No model) To 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY DAHLMAN, of Cambridge, inthe county of Isanti and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements in stringed musical instruments, such as guitars, mandolins, banjos, and the like, whereby the performer is enabled to enrich the accompaniment by playing on additional bassstrings.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figurelisaplan view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional end view of the same on the line x no of Fig. 1.

The stringed musical instrument of the class described and on which the improvements are applied is provided with the usual body A, carrying the sounding-board B and having the fingerboard 0, formed on its outer end with the usual head D. From the latter extend over the fingerboard C and part of the sounding-board B the strings E, fastened in the usual manner to the rests or pins F, arranged on top of the sounding-board.

To the left of the strings E is arranged a set of bass-strings G,which extend over the sounding-board and having one end fastened on auxiliary pins or rests II, the other ends being fastened on an auxiliary head I, secured to the head D and connected with the body A by a rod J, strengthened by brace K. (See Fig. 2.)

The performer in playing the instrument actuates the strings E, in the usual manner, with the right hand, the fingers of the left hand pressing the strings on the frets of the fingerboard in the usual manner, while the thumb of the left hand actuates the strings G whenever desired, so as to enrich the accompanilnent.

To enable the performer to conveniently play the bass-strings with the thumb of the left hand, the head I faces at right angles to the head 1), so that said strings are arranged in the arc of a circle along the rod J, as plainly shown in Fig. 3.

It is understood that the additional set of bass-strings G is not actuated on the sounding-board B, but above the latter between the upper end of the body A and the head I and at a point corresponding to the position of the left hand. The additional bass strings can be tuned in the usual manner, and are selected to be in harmony with the strings E. The rod J forms a rest for the performers thumb of the left hand to prevent an accidental touching of the additional set of bassstrings when the operator moves the left hand up and down on the finger-board O.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In astringed musical instrument of the class described, an additional set of strings extending over the sounding-board from an auxiliary head on and facing at an angle to the main or ordinary head to extension rests or pins on the sounding-board, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a stringed musical instrument of the class described, of an additional set of strings extending over the sounding-board, an auxiliary head held on the head of the said stringed instrument, on and facing at an angle to which are fastened the upper ends of the set of additional strings, auxiliary rests or pins held on the soundingboard and on which the lower ends of the said additional set of strings are fastened, and a rod connecting the auxiliary head with the body of the instrument, the auxiliary strings extending in an are along the said rod, substantially as described.

HENRY DAIILMAN.

Witnesses:

M. A. PETERSON, E. WAr'rEnsoN. 

